Project title
Population Scale Genomics For Blood Transfusion
Supervisory Team
Principal Supervisor: Dr Shivashankar Hiriyur Nagaraj
Associate Supervisor: Associate Professor Rodney Lea
Project description
Stacie’s research, which is part of the work program of the Nagaraj Lab, is focused on helping to characterise blood group antigens for Norfolk Island residents and the Indigenous Australian population using bioinformatic tools. Bioinformatics, in conjunction with an understanding blood group genetics, can help overcome shortcomings found in traditional serology-based testing. The objective of this research is to improve blood transfusion safety by reducing red cell alloimmunisation.
Short biography
For the past decade, Stacie has worked as a multi-skilled scientist in short turn-around time (STAT) laboratories in regional Queensland and Brisbane. She thoroughly enjoys the challenges associated with learning new skills, meeting new people, and troubleshooting problems. Whilst working at St Andrew’s Hospital, she developed an interest in transfusion medicine and blood product safety. This passion eventuated into Stacie taking a shared supervisor role for QML Pathology central Blood Bank Department and a research project with QUT into Blood Group Genomics. Stacie wishes to learn as much as possible about all aspects of transfusion medicine and hopes to guide the blood bank discipline into the future using bioinformatics.
Education
2019 Master of Medical Science from Charles Stuart University
2011 Bachelor of Applied Science (Medical Science) from QUT